Monday, May 5, 2014

Sri Lanka shows its wild side as country aims to increase tourism

Sri Lanka has a huge and diversified eco system, with a
larger part of the island nation still green and unexplored.

Many foreign investors have already pumped in money to
develop Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.

“You can see how serious we are to promote tourism in the
country.

The island has more
than eight national parks and many wildlife sanctuaries. Water tourism is
another specialised and unexplored segment of the island nation

"We have built a second international airport even
though we have Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport.

"This is only to ensure that tourists get access to
Yala National Park, which has the highest number of leopards in Asia and boasts
of other wildlife in its diversified ecosystem,” said a Sri Lankan tourism
department official.

The island has over eight national parks and many wildlife
sanctuaries.

Water tourism is another specialized and unexplored segment
of the island nation which is picking up in a big way with all those who visit
here.

Tourism currently contributes to over 5 per cent of its GDP
and the government expects the figure to go up to 7.5 per cent next year.

“We have many unexplored areas in the country which tourists
would love to visit.

"We do not have any major industries in our country and
also being an island state we have clean pollution-free beaches,” said another
official.